I read in more than one webpage that Orgovyx can cost almost US$3,000 in the United States (example below). Is this true? I also read that it can be "free" as a Medicare benefit after a patient has spent his maximum for the year. https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/orgovyx
Orgovyx (relugolix) is a member of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists drug class and is commonly used for Prostate Cancer.
The cost for Orgovyx 120 mg oral tablet is around $2,959 for a supply of 30 tablets, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Quoted prices are for cash-paying customers and are not valid with insurance plans. This price guide is based on using the Drugs.com discount card which is accepted at most U.S. pharmacies.
Orgovyx is available as a brand name drug only, a generic version is not yet available.
Yes. the pricing for drugs in the U.S. seems crazy! I understand that most patients don't pay that cost directly, but even when it's covered by Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans's benefits, or private insurance, *someone* is paying that (through taxes, insurance premiums, etc).
In Ontario, the drug maker set the retail price of Orgovyx at CA $315 / month (US $235) so that it would hit the same price point as Firmagon. That still seems expensive to most people, until I tell them what it costs in the U.S. 😕
FWIW, Lupron is priced from CA $1,170 (US $850) for the 22.5 mg 3-month dose, so it's also price-competitive with Firmagon and Orgovyx.
Yes. the pricing for drugs in the U.S. seems crazy! I understand that most patients don't pay that cost directly, but even when it's covered by Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans's benefits, or private insurance, *someone* is paying that (through taxes, insurance premiums, etc).
In Ontario, the drug maker set the retail price of Orgovyx at CA $315 / month (US $235) so that it would hit the same price point as Firmagon. That still seems expensive to most people, until I tell them what it costs in the U.S. 😕
FWIW, Lupron is priced from CA $1,170 (US $850) for the 22.5 mg 3-month dose, so it's also price-competitive with Firmagon and Orgovyx.
Perhaps my point is that no one is getting rich from prescribing ADT in Ontatio, but they still do prescribe it regularly, suggesting it really is for the patients' benefit and not just part of a money-making scam.
The oncologist is paid US $25 for the follow-up appointment when they prescribe it, and the pharmacy will make under US $50 profit from selling a 3-month Lupron dose or under US $20 profit from a 1-month Firmagon or Orgovyx supply.
Ontario pharmacies would do far better financially pushing herbal and homeopathic remedies, where the profit margin isn't controlled, or even more lucratively, overpriced make-up and skin-care products. 🙂
My Buddy Tom. We're both Advanced Prostate Cancer (aPC) survivors. I'm 5+ years, he's little over a year ahead of me. After 4 years on ADT his PSA started slowly rising. He stopped taking ADT 1.5 years ago. Went total health, weight lifting, recumbent bike ride, perfectly sculpted diet, + a little THC on the side instead of pain meds. We're both resistant now. He still see's his oncologist quarterly who is still extremely helpful and supportive. Tom and I get into some of the greatest conversations about "Survivorship Life," we both fight our aPC with everything we've got. I'm still on ADT, + Pluvicto now.
For me, my buddy Tom is inspiring. Fascinating the different paths we aPC Survivors take.
Just joining the group here folks. Recently found T2 prostate cancer, Gleason of 3+4. PET scan shows it might be contained, however a bright spot showed up on my Thyroid and my lung. So, getting both looked into. Hoping if cancerous they can be addressed separately maybe? Have started the ADT Hormone pill Casadex and added Lupron six month shot. External beam Radiation being discussed for best timeframe. All the latest literature I read says this one, two type treatment of Hormone and Radiation has had very good longevity outcomes. Wondering if anyone cares to comment or concur? Has anyone seen a connection between Prostate adenocancer and lung or Thyroid cancer? Tks!
Just joining the group here folks. Recently found T2 prostate cancer, Gleason of 3+4. PET scan shows it might be contained, however a bright spot showed up on my Thyroid and my lung. So, getting both looked into. Hoping if cancerous they can be addressed separately maybe? Have started the ADT Hormone pill Casadex and added Lupron six month shot. External beam Radiation being discussed for best timeframe. All the latest literature I read says this one, two type treatment of Hormone and Radiation has had very good longevity outcomes. Wondering if anyone cares to comment or concur? Has anyone seen a connection between Prostate adenocancer and lung or Thyroid cancer? Tks!
Sorry for your diagnosis. My spinal metastasis was at T3, so we're in similar situations.
If there are only a few spots (oligometastatic), then they can often be radiated individually; Pluvicto and/or chemotherapy are more commonly indicated for many spots (polymetastatic). Note that while PSMA PET is the most-sensitive scan available, it also has a reputation for throwing up false positives, so those extra little spots may or may not be significant
For metastatic prostate cancer like ours, the STAMPEDE study demonstrated the benefit of also radiating the prostate itself within a year of diagnosis, and the TITAN trial showed a *very* strong benefit to starting Apalutamide at the same time as ADT (instead of holding it in reserve until the cancer becomes castrate-resistant).
Both of these were new ideas in 2021 when I was diagnosed (the common practice then was just to treat stage-4 palliatively), but I was lucky to be at a major Canadian cancer centre where they were up on the latest research. I hope this knowledge is more widely disseminated now, but it's still worth getting to a major cancer center/centre of excellence to make sure you're getting the benefit of the latest research, because things are changing fast.
It's an adjustment, but I believe I still have a great quality of life, and look forward to getting up every morning. Are you curious about any specific side-effects?
My Buddy Tom. We're both Advanced Prostate Cancer (aPC) survivors. I'm 5+ years, he's little over a year ahead of me. After 4 years on ADT his PSA started slowly rising. He stopped taking ADT 1.5 years ago. Went total health, weight lifting, recumbent bike ride, perfectly sculpted diet, + a little THC on the side instead of pain meds. We're both resistant now. He still see's his oncologist quarterly who is still extremely helpful and supportive. Tom and I get into some of the greatest conversations about "Survivorship Life," we both fight our aPC with everything we've got. I'm still on ADT, + Pluvicto now.
For me, my buddy Tom is inspiring. Fascinating the different paths we aPC Survivors take.
It's an adjustment, but I believe I still have a great quality of life, and look forward to getting up every morning. Are you curious about any specific side-effects?
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Yes. the pricing for drugs in the U.S. seems crazy! I understand that most patients don't pay that cost directly, but even when it's covered by Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans's benefits, or private insurance, *someone* is paying that (through taxes, insurance premiums, etc).
In Ontario, the drug maker set the retail price of Orgovyx at CA $315 / month (US $235) so that it would hit the same price point as Firmagon. That still seems expensive to most people, until I tell them what it costs in the U.S. 😕
FWIW, Lupron is priced from CA $1,170 (US $850) for the 22.5 mg 3-month dose, so it's also price-competitive with Firmagon and Orgovyx.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionPerhaps my point is that no one is getting rich from prescribing ADT in Ontatio, but they still do prescribe it regularly, suggesting it really is for the patients' benefit and not just part of a money-making scam.
The oncologist is paid US $25 for the follow-up appointment when they prescribe it, and the pharmacy will make under US $50 profit from selling a 3-month Lupron dose or under US $20 profit from a 1-month Firmagon or Orgovyx supply.
Ontario pharmacies would do far better financially pushing herbal and homeopathic remedies, where the profit margin isn't controlled, or even more lucratively, overpriced make-up and skin-care products. 🙂
My Buddy Tom. We're both Advanced Prostate Cancer (aPC) survivors. I'm 5+ years, he's little over a year ahead of me. After 4 years on ADT his PSA started slowly rising. He stopped taking ADT 1.5 years ago. Went total health, weight lifting, recumbent bike ride, perfectly sculpted diet, + a little THC on the side instead of pain meds. We're both resistant now. He still see's his oncologist quarterly who is still extremely helpful and supportive. Tom and I get into some of the greatest conversations about "Survivorship Life," we both fight our aPC with everything we've got. I'm still on ADT, + Pluvicto now.
For me, my buddy Tom is inspiring. Fascinating the different paths we aPC Survivors take.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionJust joining the group here folks. Recently found T2 prostate cancer, Gleason of 3+4. PET scan shows it might be contained, however a bright spot showed up on my Thyroid and my lung. So, getting both looked into. Hoping if cancerous they can be addressed separately maybe? Have started the ADT Hormone pill Casadex and added Lupron six month shot. External beam Radiation being discussed for best timeframe. All the latest literature I read says this one, two type treatment of Hormone and Radiation has had very good longevity outcomes. Wondering if anyone cares to comment or concur? Has anyone seen a connection between Prostate adenocancer and lung or Thyroid cancer? Tks!
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionSorry for your diagnosis. My spinal metastasis was at T3, so we're in similar situations.
If there are only a few spots (oligometastatic), then they can often be radiated individually; Pluvicto and/or chemotherapy are more commonly indicated for many spots (polymetastatic). Note that while PSMA PET is the most-sensitive scan available, it also has a reputation for throwing up false positives, so those extra little spots may or may not be significant
For metastatic prostate cancer like ours, the STAMPEDE study demonstrated the benefit of also radiating the prostate itself within a year of diagnosis, and the TITAN trial showed a *very* strong benefit to starting Apalutamide at the same time as ADT (instead of holding it in reserve until the cancer becomes castrate-resistant).
Both of these were new ideas in 2021 when I was diagnosed (the common practice then was just to treat stage-4 palliatively), but I was lucky to be at a major Canadian cancer centre where they were up on the latest research. I hope this knowledge is more widely disseminated now, but it's still worth getting to a major cancer center/centre of excellence to make sure you're getting the benefit of the latest research, because things are changing fast.
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2 ReactionsThanks
May i ask abkut the quality of life with adt and apalutanide
Bexuase ny husband eas nwely diagnoses and hes only 51
It's an adjustment, but I believe I still have a great quality of life, and look forward to getting up every morning. Are you curious about any specific side-effects?
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2 ReactionsDoes your buddy Tom know his PSA? Does he get scans or just says screw it and what happens, happens?
Yes, my husnand is 51 and im 44 and he was diagnised on February this year, and i feel that im no longer married,this will be the xase forever?
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2 Reactions